Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2007

The Board has remanded this case due to the need for additional development and adjudication, including a VA examination.

The veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease was rated at 60% from August 5, 2003 onwards, reflecting a significant improvement in his condition as evidenced by normal EKG results and an estimated left ventricular ejection fraction of 48-61%. The peripheral vascular disease and diabetes mellitus were also granted ratings.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for hypertension and coronary artery disease as secondary to PTSD due to a lack of VA examination. The veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence to show that the veteran's currently diagnosed coronary artery disease with cardiomyopathy is related to herbicide exposure or service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for hypertension and heart disease prior to the Board's decision. The issue of an initial compensable rating for pleural plaques and calcified asbestosis node is being remanded for further development.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death, coronary artery disease, was not caused or contributed substantially to his death by service. The VA medical opinion concluded there was no direct link between the EKG variant shown in service and the terminal event leading to his fatal heart attack.

The appellant seeks to be recognized as a 'helpless child' of the veteran for the purposes of receiving VA DIC benefits due to her congenital heart disability. The RO has requested additional evidence from the appellant and her family members, including school records and statements from current treating physicians.

The veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as there is no credible evidence of an in-service stressor and the diagnosis of PTSD does not meet VA criteria.,Service connection for coronary artery disease to include as secondary to epilepsy was also denied due to lack of medical evidence showing a causal relationship.

The VA has determined that the veteran's hypertensive heart disease does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher initial rating beyond the currently assigned 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current heart disorder or palpitations, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to service connection for coronary artery disease, and her claim of secondary service connection for depression will be remanded for further development.

The veteran is seeking compensation for a heart disability and resultant pacemaker implantation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, as well as service connection for the same condition. The case has been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of the heart disability.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD as the evidence did not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and there was no credible supporting evidence that the claimed stressors actually occurred.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by or as a result of his service-connected duodenal ulcer, and thus denied service connection for the cause of death.

The veteran is seeking service connection for heart disease, including coronary artery disease and hypertension, as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The case has been remanded due to the need for clarification of whether the service-connected diabetes mellitus aggravates or worsens the veteran's heart disease.

The veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, which resulted in a myocardial infarction, is currently rated at 10 percent. The condition manifests with objective findings of a workload greater than 7 METs but not greater than 10 METs resulting in dyspnea on moderate exertion and continuous medication required.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and erectile dysfunction, finding that there was no direct or secondary service connection based on the lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.,For PTSD, the appeal is pending in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to coronary artery disease, which was not found to be related to his military service. The DIC claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 was also denied as there was no evidence showing that the veteran would have been entitled to a 100% rating for at least ten years prior to his death.

The veteran's combined disability rating of 40 percent does not meet the schedular requirements for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence does not support referral for extraschedular consideration.